U.S. patent application number 09/833419 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-17 for method and apparatus for handling requests for content in a network data processing system.
This patent application is currently assigned to International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Peddu, Rajesh, Sanchez, David Eugene.
Application Number | 20020152286 09/833419 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25264360 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020152286 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Peddu, Rajesh ; et
al. |
October 17, 2002 |
Method and apparatus for handling requests for content in a network
data processing system
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for
handling a request for content in a data processing system. The
request for content is received. A content source is identified
from a plurality of content sources using the request to form an
identified content source. The content is retrieved from the
identified content source. A template is applied to the content to
generate a web page, wherein the template is a template associated
with the identified content source from the plurality of content
sources.
Inventors: |
Peddu, Rajesh; (Austin,
TX) ; Sanchez, David Eugene; (Round Rock,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Duke W. Yee
Carstens, Yee & Cahoon, LLP
P.O. Box 802334
Dallas
TX
75380
US
|
Assignee: |
International Business Machines
Corporation
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
25264360 |
Appl. No.: |
09/833419 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/219 ;
707/E17.117; 709/203 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/972
20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/219 ;
709/203 |
International
Class: |
G06F 015/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method in a data processing system for handling a request for
content, the method comprising: receiving the request for content;
identifying a content source from a plurality of content sources
using the request to form an identified content source; retrieving
the content from the identified content source; and applying a
template to the content to generate a Web page, wherein the
template is a template associated with the identified content
source from the plurality of content sources.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: sending the Web page
to a requester originating the request.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the Web page is a Java server
page.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein template is a particular template
associated with the identified content source and associated with a
user originating the request.
5. A method in a data processing system for handling a request, the
method comprising: receiving the request, wherein the request
contains a universal resource identifier; obtaining navigation
information using the universal resource identifier; retrieving
content from a particular content source from a plurality of
content sources using the universal resource identifier; selecting
a template from a plurality of templates using the universal
resource identifier; and generating a Web page using the template,
the navigation information, and content.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising: generating session
information using information within the request.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting step includes selecting
the template using the session information in addition to the
universal resource identifier.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the obtaining step comprises:
obtaining navigation information using the universal resource
identifier; and creating a navigation object.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the retrieving step comprises:
retrieving content from a particular content source from a
plurality of content sources using the universal resource
identifier; and creating a content object.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the generating step comprises:
generating the Web page using the template, the navigation object,
and content object.
11. The method of claim 5, wherein the Web page is a Java server
page.
12. A content server system for comprising: a get navigation
process, wherein the get navigation process obtains navigation
information using a universal resource locator; a get content
process, wherein the get content process obtains content from a
plurality of content sources using the universal resource locator;
a build page process, wherein a page is created using the
navigation information and the content; and a request process,
wherein the request process initiates the get navigation process,
the get content process, and the build page process in response to
receiving a request.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the build page process is
initiated after the navigation information and the content are
retrieved.
14. A data processing system comprising: a bus system; a
communications unit connected to the bus system; a memory connected
to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of
instructions; and a processing unit connected to the bus system,
wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to
receive the request for content; identify a content source from a
plurality of content sources using the request to form an
identified content source; retrieve the content from the identified
content source; and apply a template to the content to generate a
Web page, wherein the template is a template associated with the
identified content source from the plurality of content
sources.
15. A data processing system comprising: a bus system; a
communications unit connected to the bus system; a memory connected
to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of
instructions; and a processing unit connected to the bus system,
wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to
receive the request, wherein the request contains a universal
resource identifier; obtain navigation information using the
universal resource identifier; retrieve content from a particular
content source from a plurality of content sources using the
universal resource identifier; select a template from a plurality
of templates using the universal resource identifier; generate a
Web page using the template, the navigation information, and
content.
16. A data processing system for handling a request for content,
the data processing system comprising: receiving means for
receiving the request for content; identifying means for
identifying a content source from a plurality of content sources
using the request to form an identified content source; retrieving
means for retrieving the content from the identified content
source; and applying means for applying a template to the content
to generate a Web page, wherein the template is a template
associated with the identified content source from the plurality of
content sources.
17. The data processing system of claim 16 further comprising:
sending means for sending the Web page to a requester originating
the request.
18. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein the Web page is
a Java server page.
19. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein template is a
particular template associated with the identified content source
and associated with a user originating the request.
20. A data processing system for handling a request, the data
processing system comprising: receiving means for receiving the
request, wherein the request contains a universal resource
identifier; obtaining means for obtaining navigation information
using the universal resource identifier; retrieving means for
retrieving content from a particular content source from a
plurality of content sources using the universal resource
identifier; selecting means for selecting a template from a
plurality of templates using the universal resource identifier; and
generating means for generating a Web page using the template, the
navigation information, and content.
21. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein the generating
means is a first generating means and further comprising: second
generating means for generating session information using
information within the request.
22. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein selecting means
includes means for selecting the template using the session
information in addition to the universal resource identifier.
23. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein the obtaining
means comprises: first means for obtaining navigation information
using the universal resource identifier; and second means for
creating a navigation object.
24. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein the retrieving
means comprises: first means for retrieving content from a
particular content source from a plurality of content sources using
the universal resource identifier; and second means for creating a
content object.
25. The data processing system of claim 24, wherein the generating
means comprises: first means for generating the Web page using the
template, the navigation object, and content object.
26. The data processing system of claim 20, wherein the Web page is
a Java server page.
27. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for
handling a request for content, the computer program product
comprising: first instructions for receiving the request for
content; second instructions for identifying a content source from
a plurality of content sources using the request to form an
identified content source; third instructions for retrieving the
content from the identified content source; and fourth instructions
for applying a template to the content to generate a Web page,
wherein the template is a template associated with the identified
content source from the plurality of content sources.
28. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for
handling a request, the computer program product comprising: first
instructions for receiving the request, wherein the request
contains a universal resource identifier; second instructions for
obtaining navigation information using the universal resource
identifier; third instructions for retrieving content from a
particular content source from a plurality of content sources using
the universal resource identifier; fourth instructions for
selecting a template from a plurality of templates using the
universal resource identifier; and fifth instructions for
generating a Web page using the template, the navigation
information, and content.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates generally to an improved data
processing system, and in particular to a method and apparatus for
handling a request for content. Still more particularly, the
present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer
implemented instructions for handling a request for content, which
may originate from different content providers.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art:
[0004] The Internet, also referred to as an "internetwork", is a
set of computer networks, possibly dissimilar, joined together by
means of gateways that handle data transfer and the conversion of
messages from protocols of the sending network to the protocols
used by the receiving network (with packets if necessary). When
capitalized, the term "Internet" refers to the collection of
networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols.
[0005] The Internet has become a cultural fixture as a source of
both information and entertainment. Many businesses are creating
Internet sites as an integral part of their marketing efforts,
informing consumers of the products or services offered by the
business or providing other information seeking to engender brand
loyalty. Many federal, state, and local government agencies are
also employing Internet sites for informational purposes,
particularly agencies which must interact with virtually all
segments of society such as the Internal Revenue Service and
secretaries of state. Providing informational guides and/or
searchable databases of online public records may reduce operating
costs. Further, the Internet is becoming increasingly popular as a
medium for commercial transactions.
[0006] Currently, the most commonly employed method of transferring
data over the Internet is to employ the World Wide Web environment,
also called simply "the Web". Other Internet resources exist for
transferring information, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and
Gopher, but have not achieved the popularity of the Web. In the Web
environment, servers and clients effect data transaction using the
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a known protocol for handling
the transfer of various data files (e.g., text, still graphic
images, audio, motion video, etc.). The information in various data
files are formatted for presentation to a user by a standard page
description language, the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). In
addition to basic presentation formatting, HTML allows developers
to specify "links" to other Web resources identified by a Uniform
Resource Locator (URL). A URL is a special syntax identifier
defining a communications path to specific information. Each
logical block of information accessible to a client, called a
"page" or a "Web page", is identified by a URL. The URL provides a
universal, consistent method for finding and accessing this
information, not necessarily for the user, but mostly for the
user's Web "browser". A browser is a program capable of submitting
a request for information identified by an identifier, such as, for
example, a URL. A user may enter a domain name through a graphical
user interface (GUI) for the browser to access a source of content.
The domain name is automatically converted to the Internet Protocol
(IP) address by a domain name system (DNS), which is a service that
translates the symbolic name entered by the user into an IP address
by looking up the domain name in a database.
[0007] Currently, requests for content are handled by services
designed for each particular type of content source. For example,
Domino provides integrated application services-such as security,
workflow and content management-optimize the platform for rapid
delivery of the collaborative Web applications you need to initiate
and strengthen key business relationships. Domino is available from
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). Another content
source may employ an Internet Information Server (IIS), which is a
Web server system available from Microsoft Corporation. Currently,
each of these types of content sources require a separate set of
processes to process requests and deliver content, such as Web
pages. Each service also may provide features, such as electronic
mail and security. Many times, a customer may use a different type
of content source to serve or provide Web applications. The
customer often requires a consistent look and feel regardless of
the type of content source. This requirement often involves
duplication of common services and infrastructure. When a customer
has more than one type of content source, such as a Domino system
and a DB2 system, changes made to the look and feel within one
content source system require similar changes to be made to other
content source system.
[0008] Further, often times a customer will have different
developers create or modify content. It is often difficult a
desired presentation with different developers handling the content
creation and modification. Currently, the content has to be
reviewed and changes may have to be made to maintain a consistent
presentation of content from the content source.
[0009] Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved
method and apparatus for maintaining a desired presentation of
content from multiple content sources.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and
computer implemented instructions for handling a request for
content in a data processing system. The request for content is
received. A content source is identified from a plurality of
content sources using the request to form an identified content
source. The content is retrieved from the identified content
source. A template is applied to the content to generate a web
page, wherein the template is a template associated with the
identified content source from the plurality of content
sources.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention
are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself,
however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and
advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the
following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a network of data
processing systems in which the present invention may be
implemented;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a server cluster in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a data processing system that
may be implemented as a server in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a content server system in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a diagram of tiers within a content server system
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is diagram of data flow used to generate a Web page
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a diagram of table used to identify content
sources in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0019] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process used for processing a
request for content in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] With reference now to the figures, and in particular FIG. 1
depicts a pictorial representation of a network of data processing
systems in which the present invention may be implemented. Network
data processing system 100 is a network of computers in which the
present invention may be implemented. Network data processing
system 100 contains a network 102, which is the medium used to
provide communications links between various devices and computers
connected together within network data processing system 100.
Network 102 may include connections, such as wire, wireless
communication links, or fiber optic cables.
[0021] In the depicted example, a server 104 is connected to
network 102 along with storage unit 106. Further, network data
processing system 100 also includes server cluster 108 as well as a
server 110. In this example, server 110 is connected to network 102
through local area network (LAN) 112. In addition, clients 114,
116, and 118 also are connected to network 102. These clients 114,
116, and 118 may be, for example, personal computers or network
computers. In the depicted example, server 104, server cluster 108,
and server 110 provide a distributed web commerce server system for
processing requests from clients 114-118. In the depicted examples,
server 104, server cluster 108 and server 110 may be located in
multiple, geographically distributed sites. The servers are
presented to users, such as those at clients 114-118, as a single
Web site. Additionally, one of the servers, such as server 104 may
act as a load balancer to receive and direct requests from the
clients to the appropriate servers within the system. Network data
processing system 100 may include additional servers, clients, and
other devices not shown.
[0022] In the depicted examples, network data processing system 100
is the Internet with network 102 representing a worldwide
collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of
protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the
Internet is a backbone of high-speed data communication lines
between major nodes or host computers, consisting of thousands of
commercial, government, educational and other computer systems that
route data and messages. Of course, network data processing system
100 also may be implemented as a number of different types of
networks, such as for example, an intranet, a local area network
(LAN), or a wide area network (WAN). FIG. 1 is intended as an
example, and not as an architectural limitation for the present
invention.
[0023] With reference now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a server
cluster is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention. Server cluster 200 in this example may be
implemented as server cluster 108 in FIG. 1.
[0024] In this example, servers 202-210 are in communication with
each other through communications system 212, which may take
various forms. Communications system 212 may be, for example, a
bus, a network, or a shared memory. Communications system 212 is
used to handle routing of requests and responses directed towards
server farm 200. Load manager 214 also is connected to
communications system 212 and serves to receive requests directed
to server farm 200 from network 216. Load manager 214 also serves
to distribute requests to servers 202-210 for processing.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram of a data processing
system that may be implemented as a server, such as server 104 in
FIG. 1, is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention. Further, data processing system 300 may be
implemented as a server, such as server 202 with server cluster
200, in FIG. 2.
[0026] Data processing system 300 may be a symmetric multiprocessor
(SMP) system including a plurality of processors 302 and 304
connected to system bus 306. Alternatively, a single processor
system may be employed. Also connected to system bus 306 is memory
controller/cache 308, which provides an interface to local memory
309. I/O bus bridge 310 is connected to system bus 306 and provides
an interface to I/O bus 312. Memory controller/cache 308 and I/O
bus bridge 310 may be integrated as depicted. Peripheral component
interconnect (PCI) bus bridge 314 connected to I/O bus 312 provides
an interface to PCI local bus 316. A number of modems may be
connected to PCI bus 316. Typical PCI bus implementations will
support four PCI expansion slots or add-in connectors.
Communications links to network computers 114-118 in FIG. 1 may be
provided through modem 318 and network adapter 320 connected to PCI
local bus 316 through add-in boards.
[0027] Additional PCI bus bridges 322 and 324 provide interfaces
for additional PCI buses 326 and 328, from which additional modems
or network adapters may be supported. In this manner, data
processing system 300 allows connections to multiple network
computers. A memory-mapped graphics adapter 330 and hard disk 332
may also be connected to I/O bus 312 as depicted, either directly
or indirectly.
[0028] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the
hardware depicted in FIG. 3 may vary. For example, other peripheral
devices, such as optical disk drives and the like, also may be used
in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted
example is not meant to imply architectural limitations with
respect to the present invention.
[0029] The data processing system depicted in FIG. 3 may be, for
example, an IBM RISC/System 6000 system, a product of International
Business Machines Corporation in Armonk, N.Y., running the Advanced
Interactive Executive (AIX) operating system.
[0030] With reference now to FIG. 4, a diagram of a content server
system is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention. In this example, content server system 400 may
be implemented within a server system, such as server farm 200 in
FIG. 2 or data processing system 300 in FIG. 3. In these examples,
the process, navigation, and display components reside within a
Java application server.
[0031] In the depicted examples, server system 400 includes page
creation process 402, which receives user request 404. As
illustrated, user request 404 is passed using the HTTP standard.
The mechanism of the present invention may be applied to any
content sources supporting this standard.
[0032] In response to receiving request 404, page creation 402 will
obtain navigation information from navigation database 406 using a
universal resource identifier (URI) within the request. Navigation
database 406 provides content used to generate links or other
mechanisms used to navigate to different Web pages. In these
examples, the URI is in the form of a universal resource locator
(URL). DataBase 2 (DB2) is an example of a database system, which
may be used to implement navigation database 406. DB2 is a
relational database management system available from IBM. DB2 is a
full-featured SQL language database management system.
[0033] Page creation process 402 also will query either content
source 408 or content source 410 for content using the URL within
user request 404. As illustrated, content source 408 and content
410 provide content for Web pages. In the depicted examples,
content source 408 may be a Domino server, while content source 410
may be an IIS server. In response to receiving content and
navigation information, Web page 412 is generated and returned to
the user.
[0034] With this system, a centralized control of page presentation
is made possible. Page creation process 402 controls the
presentation of content from multiple content sources. In this
manner, developers creating content are no longer required to
interface with developers generating navigation information.
Further, the addition of other content sources, do not require
changes to navigation database 406, content source 408, or content
source 410. These changes only need to be made to page creation
process 402. In this manner, scalability is provided for adding
content sources and navigation information, without requiring
changes to the different content services.
[0035] Turning next to FIG. 5, a diagram of tiers within a content
server system is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the present invention. In the depicted examples, content server
system 500 includes data layer 502, application logic layer 504,
and presentation layer 506. Data layer 502 contains information
sources, such as navigation database 508, content source 510, and
content source 512. Application logic layer 504 includes request
process 514, get navigation process 516, get content process 518,
and build page process 520, which may be implemented as page
creation process 402 in FIG. 4.
[0036] Request process 514 serves to receive requests from users,
such as a request for a Web page from a browser program. In
response to receiving a request, request process 514 identifies a
URL sent within the request. This URL is sent to get navigation
process 516 and get content process 518. In turn, get navigation
process 516 will request navigation data from navigation database
508 using the URL. Get content process 518 will request content
from content source 510 or content source 512 using the URL. The
requested information is stored in temporary data 522, which may
be, for example, a portion of memory or space within a hard disk
drive.
[0037] Request process 514 also will initiate build page process
520. Build page process 520 will generate a Web page, such as Java
server page (JSP) 524 in presentation layer 506. A JSP is an HTML
page with embedded Java source code that is executed in the Web
server or application server. The HTML provides the page layout
that will be returned to the Web browser, and the Java provides the
processing, for example, to deliver a query to the database and
fill in the blank fields with the results. JSP 524 contains
navigation area 526 and content area 528. Navigation information is
located in navigation area 526, while content is placed in content
area 528. The presentation or look and feel of JSP 524 is
controlled by build page process 520.
[0038] Turning now to FIG. 6, a diagram of data flow used to
generate a Web page is depicted in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. The data flow in FIG. 6 may be
implemented within page creation process 402 in FIG. 4.
[0039] The data flow begins by receiving user request 600. Request
process 514 uses the request information from user request 600 to
get/create session information from session database 602 (block
S1). A user object is then created (block S2) and stored within
temporary data 522. Get navigation process 516 is initiated to
query for navigation information from DB2 604, which contains the
navigation information (block S3). This query is made using the URL
obtained from user request 600. The navigation object is then
created (block S4) and stored with temporary data 522. Get content
process 518 uses the URL to obtain content from an application at
server 606 supporting HTTP in these examples (block S5). A content
object is created (block S6) with this content object being stored
in temporary data 522.
[0040] Build page process 520 uses the URL to select a JSP template
from templates 608 (block S7). This template is selected to provide
a presentation of the content for a particular content source. In
these examples, the type of presentation for a particular content
source is associated with a URL. Further, depending on the
particular content retrieved from a particular content source, the
presentation may vary for different content from that particular
content source.
[0041] The particular template selected also may be based on
particular preferences of the user originating the request. For
example, a user may have a preference to avoid intensive graphic
animations. A template may be selected for this user in which these
types of animations are absent. These preferences may be associated
with a user name received in the request. The preferences may be
stored within session database 602 in these examples with the user
name being used as a query into the database.
[0042] A JSP request is created (block S8). This request uses user,
navigation, and content objects stored within temporary data 522 to
create a JSP. This JSP is returned to the user originating user
request 600 (block S9).
[0043] In obtaining content in block S5, the URL is used to
identify that particular content source. A number of different
mechanisms may be used to identify the correct content source from
the URL. For example, domain name system (DNS) information at a DNS
server may be altered to direct the request to the appropriate
content source. DNS is a name resolution system allowing users to
locate computers on a UNIX network or the Internet (TCP/IP network)
by domain name. The DNS server maintains a database of domain names
(host names) and their corresponding IP addresses.
[0044] Alternatively, the mechanism of the present invention may
employ a lookup system. With reference next to FIG. 7, a diagram of
table used to identify content sources is depicted in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Table 700
includes entries 702-708 in these examples. Each entry includes a
URL, a server identification, and a template. When a URL is
identified from a request, this URL is used as an index into table
700 to identify the appropriate source. The server identification
may take various forms, such as the name of the server, or an IP
address for the server. In the depicted examples, table 700 is
implemented within application logic layer 504 in FIG. 5. Further,
table 700 also may be used to identify a template for a particular
content source. In this manner, consistent presentation of content
may be applied to content sources from the process of the present
invention.
[0045] Turning next to FIG. 8, a flowchart of a process used for
processing a request for content is depicted in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The process
illustrated in FIG. 8 may be implemented in a process, such as page
creation process 402 in FIG. 4.
[0046] The process begins by receiving a request from a user (step
800). The request is then parsed (step 802). The request is parsed
to obtain information, such as, for example, the URL, the source of
the request, destination of the request, a user name, and a user
password. Next, session information is generated (step 804). This
session may be generated from the information obtained from the
request and by querying a database of session information. A user
object is created using the session information (step 806). Then,
the user object is stored (step 808). In these examples, the user
object may be stored in temporary information, such as temporary
data 522 in FIG. 5.
[0047] Navigation information is obtained using a URL from the
request (step 810). The URL may be sent to a navigation database,
such as navigation database 508 in FIG. 5. The navigation
information identifies other pages to which a user may travel from
the page identified by the URL. A navigation object is created
(step 812) and then stored (step 814). This object also is stored
in a temporary location.
[0048] Next, content from an appropriate content source is obtained
using the URL from the request (step 816). A content object is
created (step 818). Next, the content object is stored (step 820).
As with the user object and the navigation object, the content
object also is stored in a temporary location.
[0049] Then, using the URL from the request, a template is selected
(step 822). A particular domain name within the URL for a content
source may be used to select the template. In this manner, a
presentation of content may be made consistent for a particular
content source. A finer granularity may be implemented in which
multiple templates may be associated with a particular content
source. Different templates may be selected based on particular
content identified in the URL. For example, content for sales
information may be associated with one template, while content for
technical information may be associated with another template.
Further, the particular template may be selected based on
particular user preferences for the user originating the
request.
[0050] A JSP is created using the user object, navigation object,
and content object (step 824). These objects are in a format that
is usable for creating the JSP. The JSP is then returned to the
requester (step 826) with the process terminating thereafter.
[0051] Using the mechanism of the present invention, a common
service is provided for handling requests for content from multiple
content sources. Additionally, the mechanism of the present
invention allows for filtering the request to package a response,
such as a JSP, that incorporates the original content with a
consistent presentation. Further, the mechanism of the present
invention avoids requiring developers to modify code each time a
content provider changes the content or implementation. The
presentation of the information is centralized and separated from
the content providers through the use of templates or other similar
mechanisms to handle presentation of the content. As a result, the
need for content developers to interface with presentation
functions is avoided. This mechanism provides scalability because
of the ability to handle different content sources. Further, the
mechanism allows personalization of the presentation of
content.
[0052] It is important to note that while the present invention has
been described in the context of a fully functioning data
processing system, those of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that the processes of the present invention are capable
of being distributed in the form of a computer readable medium of
instructions and a variety of forms and that the present invention
applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearing
media actually used to carry out the distribution. Examples of
computer readable media include recordable-type media, such as a
floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a RAM, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, and
transmission-type media, such as digital and analog communications
links, wired or wireless communications links using transmission
forms, such as, for example, radio frequency and light wave
transmissions. The computer readable media may take the form of
coded formats that are decoded for actual use in a particular data
processing system.
[0053] The description of the present invention has been presented
for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended
to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed.
Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described
in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the
practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in
the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with
various modifications as are suited to the particular use
contemplated.
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